Chinese-style baby carriers (孭带) in Hong Kong

I've looked at this photo many times over the last few months, as it's one that's going into the Gwulo book. It got me thinking about how the cloth baby carrier has gone in and out of fashion.

The photo above was taken in 1954. I also found one in my collection that looks older, I guess taken sometime where in the 1920s - 1940s.

The carrier has a very simple design: just a square of material with a strap at each corner, often with embroidery to add some colour. You can see some stitching on the carrier in the photo above.

We can get a better idea of the design of the carrier and their decorations in these next two photos. Each shows a carrier that was made in the 1940s.

Baby sling, by Geoff Emerson

Chris Potter with his baby sling from camp, by Geoff Emerson

They're unusual in that they were made to carry western children. Indeed Chris Potter, holding the blue carrier above, was carried in it when he was a young boy!

I say it's unusual, because photos we have of western children from around that time usually show the child in a pram.

1930's Kowloon Park, by Bails

But of course the early 1940s in Hong Kong were anything but usual, with Hong Kong occupied by the Japanese, and most of the western families interned in Stanley Camp. There the usefulness of the Chinese baby carrier, plus the fact it didn't need a lot of resources to make, overcame any prejudices the internees may have felt about wearing them.

Here's a sketch drawn in Stanley Camp showing Chris in his carrier, being carried by his mother.

A J Savitsky's sketch of the baby sling in use, by Geoff Emerson

After the end of the war, the internees returned to their prams, but the carriers remained as popular as ever with local mothers. Andrew Suddaby caught two travelling in convoy in the late 1950s.

New Territories. Tai Po Market Fu Shin street, by Andrew Suddaby

There's only room for one child in the carrier, so how did the mother manage if she had two babies born in close succession? If they were her first two children, that must have been quite a headache. But families were larger then, so before long there would be an older brother or sister who could take over carrying the young child. Andrew's photos have a couple of examples:

Cheung Chau, by Andrew Suddaby

Aberdeen, children on quay, by Andrew Suddaby

The carriers were still popular in the 1960s and 70s, when Harry took these photos:

Boat Children - Sok Kwu Wan, by harryhktc

Fisher-folk Children Sha Tau Kok -1960's, by harryhktc

This type of cloth carrier is much less popular today, so we don't see them as often. And I've tried to remember if I've ever seen a child wearing one to carry another child, but I don't think I have. Although that style of carrier has gone out of fashion in Hong Kong, the idea of carrying a child close to the body has become more popular in overseas markets. You'll find modern carriers, with high-tech materials and ergonomic claims, in all the baby goods shops.

When each of our daughters were young, I carried them around strapped to my chest in a modern carrier made by Baby Bjorn. A bit sweaty in the Hong Kong summer, but a lot more convenient than trying to navigate a pram or stroller through the crowded streets.

We'll finish with photos of two carriers that deserve an award. First the award for most ornately decorated:

Hakka Woman and Child - Tai Po - late 1960's, by harryhktc

And finally the award for the person most in need of a handkerchief:

If you've got any memories of carrying or being carried in one of these, or any good photos showing the carriers, please let us know in the comments below.

Regards, David

PS The Chinese name for this type of carrier is 孭带, which in Cantonese sounds something like 'mair dai'. 'mair' means to carry something on your shoulders, and 'dai' is the word for a belt.

Corrections:

• 28 Aug 2017: The first version of this read: "The Chinese name for this type of carrier is 背带, which in Cantonese sounds something like 'mair dai'. 'mair' means to carry something on your back..." Thanks to Winnie for explaining that the Chinese characters should be 孭帶. not 背帶, and that 孭 means carrying on shoulders. I've updated the text.

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